Who wouldn’t want a tropical beach wedding? The warmth of the sun on your bare shoulders, the gentle sound of waves lapping at the shoreline nearby, guitarists serenading you as you walk towards an archway festooned with hibiscus flowers, your gorgeous white dress standing out magnificently against the turquoise lagoon… If you’re not already convinced, here are five great reasons why you’re much better off booking a tropical beach wedding package in Rarotonga than thinking about any of the venues closer to home.

1. It’s close to home if you are from New Zealand. From Auckland to the Cook Islands it is an easy 4 hour flight.

2. With stunning lagoon surroundings (including Titikaveka and Muri) – Rarotonga is known for its gorgeous beaches, warm temperatures (averaging between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius), lush foliage, crystal clear lagoons and sunsets that take your breath away. It’s guaranteed to start your married life off in the most romantic way possible. Note the weather is generally the best from May to October.

3. Stress free – When you decide on a tropical beach wedding package in Rarotonga, you decide on a stress free path to your most special day. Resorts usually have their own dedicated wedding co-ordinators and there are several other experienced freelance wedding planners working on the island. They know how to pull off your big day with ease and you can leave it to them to make sure that you have the most relaxing wedding day you could ever dream of.

4. Quality time with friends and family – Marrying among friends and family on a tropical beach in the South Pacific isn’t like the normal wedding experience where you don’t really have time to mix with your friends and family before rushing off for your honeymoon. Your tropical beach wedding package can include a small number of your closest friends and family, or more if you prefer. Because they’ll be travelling to the island and probably taking some holiday time there as well, you’ll be able to enjoy their company after the wedding in the relaxed environment that Rarotonga provides. You’ll each have your own private spaces, as well as the opportunity to get together whenever you feel like it. It’s a great way to introduce new family members to each other in a low stress environment and you’ll be able to share hours of long happy memories with those closest to you for the lifetime ahead.

5. It’s a photographer’s dream – You will cherish your amazing wedding photos featuring an idyllic beach setting where you are surrounded by glorious colours, perfect light and tropical treasures. Given that Rarotonga is only 32km in circumference, your photographer can drive you to many spectacular locations without worrying about the time.

6. Surprisingly affordable – When you think about the amount of money most people spend on a wedding at home followed by an overseas honeymoon, it’s well worth comparing the cost of a tropical beach wedding package in Rarotonga. You will probably invite fewer guests to a tropical beach wedding, which will reduce costs for a start. You won’t have to travel to your honeymoon destination – because you will already be there. A package deal means the flights; accommodation, meals and other options can be booked together to achieve substantial discounts. Many people who’ve done the numbers have opted for what they thought was an impossible dream – a wedding in paradise!

We all know do it yourself (DIY) wedding projects are an easy way to save money in the wedding budget. So we’ve outlined the five easiest ways to customize and personalize your wedding without breaking the wedding bank.

Wedding Idea 1: Wedding monogram stamps

One easy way to make DIY tricks easier is to invest in a custom monogram stamp. This makes it very easy to put your mark on invitations and other stationary. You can order these online or get one custom-made at craft and scrap-booking stores. Buy a few and enlist some of your friends to help stamp all your stationary for the wedding.

Wedding Idea 2: Wedding programs made from wrapping paper

A great and easy idea is to take several different wrapping papers from the same color scheme to use as covers for your wedding programs. A variety of patterns and shades will create a coordinated vintage look. Simply adhere the paper to the front of your program for a cheap, easily made wedding program.

Wedding Idea 3: DIY screen printed napkins

You’ve probably seen the personalized napkins you can order from wedding favor websites, but what you didn’t know is there is an easy cost-effective way to make those at home. Most craft stores sell a print Gocco machine, which allows you to load your own art and print it onto anything (in our case cocktail napkins). You can even use this nifty machine to make customized bachelor/bachelorette party shirts.

Wedding Idea 4: Pressed flower stationary

If you’re getting married in the summer of fall, than you have the opportunity to collect beautiful wild flowers to press and then later use on your stationary. Press the flowers with heavy books, once pressed flat, glue the pressed flowers to your stationary and seal with adhesive spray.

Wedding Idea 5: Customized stickers

Customized stickers are a great idea to personalize anything from favors to votive candles. Most crafts stores like Michael’s sell pre-made sticker that all you have to do is print your logo or design onto them.

Weddings during the summer season are vibrant, colorful and fun and there are so many summer wedding ideas that you can choose from. Summers are full of shine and warmth, glow and beauty and this is the time for using and experimenting with all sorts of colors.

Although weddings are normally an expensive affair but that doesn’t always mean that all weddings have to be lavish when you can cut down on your expenses and still have a lovely ceremony with a decent budget too.

You can have a cozy ceremony in your family member’s or even a friends backyard, the one who has an expansive and a beautiful yard. If you are quite close to any of your family member or your friend, then you wouldn’t have to shell out a penny apart from mowing the lawn.

A green and fresh flower garden with a pretty little water fountain would be an addition and will ooze out a fresh and mellow summer feel for the guests with summer wedding colors in bloom as this small venue can be as lovely as renting an outdoor professional venue.

Cheap summer wedding ideas do not imply that your wedding would be a second grade affair – you just have to be more receptive of other ideas and put your creativity and imagination to use.

Rather than engaging a professional catering service from outside for your wedding, you can get assistance from your loved ones, who are excellent cooks. It will greatly reduce your overall budget.

Stick with summer wedding flowers which are seasonal because importing flowers anytime always increases the budget as non-seasonal are expensive than the seasonal ones. You can pick two kinds of colorful flowers for your summer wedding bouquets.

Artificial flowers like the ones made out of silk are cheaper than the natural flowers and look just as beautiful.

Cakes in a square shape are normally costlier per slice wise than the round cakes. There are many people at the wedding who might not eat the cake at all, so you can let the baker you hired have a small figure of guests than the exact number you’re expecting to be there at the wedding.

For example if you are expecting about 150 guests, then ask the baker to bake a wedding cake for about a 100 or 110 people, which will really cut your cost and it’s one of the best summer wedding ideas for cost cutting. Cutting the cake is a ceremonial event, so the slices per guest can be kept modest.

Instead of employing professional help for the decor, do the summer wedding decorations on your own, by involving your friends or family and apart from lowering your costs you will have a lot of fun doing so.

Get the wedding photo and video package combined as it will cost you less than booking both the things separately, whether you book it from the same or different studios. Print the placement cards and invitation cards from your own computer system. The stationary for the same can be purchased from any good stationery supply shop. You will save a modest amount.

If you have a receptive and an open mind, there are so many affordable summer wedding ideas for you to pick from. Spending lavishly does not always ensure that you’ll have a stunning event.

The effort, love and time you put in to the process is what that’s going to matter by the end of it and so does the presence of your loved ones.

If you are looking to have a great career in acting, you must first have a great photo. Use the following tips to help you get a great shot.

1. Choose A Photographer Based On Your Comfort Level With Them.Pick a photographer that makes you feel comfortable. You should feel at ease with your photographer. If you don’t, you won’t trust their expertise and directions. And your uneasiness will show up in your pictures. A good photographer will work to make sure that you shine and are comfortable throughout the entire process.

2. Get Your Shots Done By A Professional. Do not let your friends take your headshot. While your friend may mean well, unless they are an experienced photographer, they won’t understand all the factors that need to be captured to present you at your best. An experienced photographer has heard input from many actors, agents, and casting directors throughout their many years of shooting. They can use this knowledge to capture what agents and casting directors are looking for. Can the same be said of your friend?

3. Have Your Make Done. That Includes Men. Actor headshots look better in makeup including men headshots. NYC casting directors seem to prefer color photos. Photos done in color reveal more imperfections than black and white photos. It is important to make sure the makeup only enhances your natural features and does not change you into someone that represents a part that you’ll never go out for. Choose natural makeup over glamorous makeup, and you’ll go a long way in getting a great photo. Your picture must look like you.

4. Know What To Wear. Consider the parts you will be up for. Your photo should be representative of the parts you are more likely to go audition for. Your first impression is made with your picture. So make sure it represents your range accurately. Also consider doing multiple looks within one session. This will ensure that you will be well prepared to compete for a multitude of parts.

5. Know Yourself. The day of your photo shoot is not the day to test a new hair style, or skincare product. Try to keep your routine as regular as possible to avoid potential complications on the day of your shoot. If you are considering trying something different, give yourself ample time to recover just in case your experiment doesn’t go well.

There are many other factors that go into making a great picture but those are enough to get you started.

Some of the best weddings that we have catered for have been great because they have been kept simple. It doesn’t matter if it is based upon the number of guests you invite, or the style of the wedding catering, it is my belief that simple is best.

A garden wedding can be a great alternative to a larger venue and less expensive too. It’s quiet and intimate in a beautiful garden setting for a wedding reception. It is advisable to make sure that you have some cover however, a marquee or even inside the house. There are a great many exclusive holiday homes which can act as both the wedding venue and the reception venue.

Your wedding evening doesn’t have to include all of the usual singing and dancing and speeches that many people believe is the only type of wedding in existence. Couples are demanding simple wedding and wedding catering ideas to get away from that old fashioned traditional style of affair. Not having to abide by the rules laid down by the wedding establishment, takes away an awful lot of the stress associated with weddings. Having a simple wedding and wedding catering will also keep down the cost too.

A small wedding idea might be a modern canapé catering reception in a creative and arty space. Why not hire a local art gallery or listed heritage building? Alternatively, a fantastic idea could be a country retreat, renting the rooms too so that your select few guests can enjoy a long weekend as well as the wedding.

Take away all the fancy expensive treats such as the large bunch of flowers and extensive decorations and replace with simple decorations and much smaller and fewer details. Lose the big, hot, stuffy formal dress and replace it with shortened more comfortable dress and relaxed suits. Remove the traditions and just do what you want to do. Most weddings you see, in magazines or on the Internet are quite large with huge budgets, but that’s not to everyone’s taste. Small is beautiful too and sometimes even more memorable. A little intimacy goes a long way and can make perfect memories.

Weddings that are based around simple ideas, simple gourmet catering, simple perfect reception venue and more, that the bride and groom can really put 100% of themselves into, relatively stress free too! Cutting your guest numbers doesn’t necessarily mean little budgets. A small wedding can still cost big bucks, if you have it to spend, which means that the wedding can be a truly gourmet affair where everything is perfect and the select few guests can be pampered.

There are far too many wedding venues about that are all about big numbers which does not work for everyone. One of the benefits of a smaller and more intimate wedding venue is the amount of wedding ideas the venue or the catering company themselves can offer you. The caterer could offer you wedding ideas regarding flowers, hire equipment, cake decorators and so much more besides. A good wedding caterer will work closely with these wedding industry professionals on a weekly, if not almost daily, basis and will be able to offer assistance if and when you need any. This elevates the stress from you and it also means you can spend more time with your guests and your new partner, rather than being the social butterfly most couples have to be on their wedding day.

You have been dreaming about your wedding day since you were a child. You have the colors picked out, and countless ideas bouncing around, but now as it draws near your thinking…. What are some Unique Wedding Ideas, that i can use to make this day truly my own and unlike any other wedding?

Never fear, you have found your way to the right place. Below is a list of 5 unique ideas that will provide you a beautiful wedding, but allow it to truly stand apart from most other weddings you have attended.

1. BROADCAST YOUR WEDDING
This is such a unique and good idea for so many reasons. Weddings are an event, they are timeless! Unfortunately, your location or timing may hinder some loved ones from attending. Insert services like USTREAM and JUSTIN.TV. These services offer you the capability (with just a camera and laptop) to stream the event live over the internet. Imagine family members, that live thousands of miles away, or in other countries being able to share in your special day. The BEST part about these services is its FREE! You even have the ability to embed the stream on your own website or Facebook page. Just don’t forget to hit record, so you’ll be able to watch and share the video later.

2. STREAM YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER’S STILLS AT THE RECEPTION
Technology is ingrained in our lives. Why not use this power!? With a simple connector and a TV screen you can provide your reception guests with a montage of your wedding ceremony photos.

3. RENT A PHOTO BOOTH
What better way for guests to capture the spirit of the wedding, than to slide into a photo booth. Everyone loves a photo booth and it provides an opportunity for guests to leave with a fun memento of the wedding. You could even have the guests stop and have you sign the photos with a thank you and the date, so that each guest gets a personalized gift from the bride and groom.

4. WEDDING PARTY GIFTS
Provide plantable seeds, with your wedding information on the package, so the parting guests can have a reminder in their garden of your special day. Another fun idea is to have the guest attendant take a digital photo of each attendee, as they arrive. Then later you can upload the photos to a hosting site, and email the link to your guests so they can remember your special day and all the friends that attended the wedding.

5. CEREMONY MUSIC
Incorporate your personality into the ceremony music! The only rules that apply at your wedding, are YOUR rules. (obviously consider the venue) But you get the point! Choose music that makes you smile and have fun. Your wedding day is supposed to be all about you. So maybe even have a special custom song written for that 1st dance as a couple.

]]>Choosing a Wedding Photographer – 5 Tips to Help You Make a Good Choicehttp://sufferowsson.ga/choosing-a-wedding-photographer-5-tips-to-help-you-make-a-good-choice.html
Thu, 04 Jan 2018 05:12:15 +0000/?p=34

Choosing a wedding photographer or a family portrait photographer can be a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be. Here we offer some valuable advice about what you should consider when making that choice.

Tip #1 Why can’t we all just get along!

All good photographers will try and capture the natural, real you in their images so it is important that you develop a natural affinity with your wedding or portrait photographer. You know fairly quickly on first impressions with people whether you are going to get along so go with your gut instinct – “am I going to have fun with this person?” is a question you should be asking yourself.

Tip #2 You get what you pay for

A truism very common in life and even more so in photography. Price should be ONE of the factors in your decision but not the over riding one. There are a lot of ‘amateur professional’s’ out there who will charge you next to nothing and deliver even less. Remember – you are stuck with the end results of your day so choose wisely.

Tip #3 But I want the deluxe package!

If you are on a budget you can always upgrade later – the key thing is to get the source images taken in the first place. Weddings are expensive things at the best of times so a good idea is to keep the end print & album quantities on the low side initially and then come back to the photographer when the wedding and honeymoon bills have been taken care of. I have often suggested this to clients who you can see are wrestling with the financial strain and the look of relief on their faces is often worth a picture in itself. A lot of people are unaware of this option. Be wary of any wedding photographer that tries to sell you into a package you cannot afford.

Tip #4 Plan Plan Plan…. then plan some more

Sitting down with your wedding or portrait photographer months before the event is an excellent idea as you will be surprised at what advice the seasoned professional can offer. Remember – these guys have been a major part of often hundreds of weddings and can give you invaluable tips on planning the day, timing various parts of the day and getting you more relaxed about the whole event. Forward planning also gives you time to work through those contingency plans that absolutely require forethought.

Tip #5 Think outside the box

We’ve all seen gazillions of pre-posed wedding photos that seem to simply document the day and record who turned up and what they were wearing, but you should be looking to capture those candid heartfelt moments where Dad slyly wipes a tear as his little girl gets given away, or the glance Grandma gives Grandpa as the vows take place and they move to hold hands remembering their special day all those years ago. Our desire as photographers is to capture your personality in the few hours we have with you so it is important to express yourself clearly to your photographer – tell them what you want and what your goals are.

In closing, I would say that it has been a real privilege to be part of so many couples special day, sure there is the stress of making sure you deliver given that you’ve only got one shot at it, but often taking that moment to reflect on why all the people are there in the first place is a humbling experience.

If you want to really stand out as an actor (and I think you do), you will have to make your resume stand out for you.

Your resume, cover letter, and headshot are really the first impressions you’ll ever make. They act as your agent–good ones get you auditions, bad ones don’t…

So, how does one go about standing out from the rest of the crowd? Well, first of all, you have to think like a marketer. What makes YOU interesting and unique as an actor? This is you USP (Unique Selling Point). Your resume and cover letter act as your USP…

In order to make your resume and cover letters really effective, you must follow a few simple guidelines:

For your resume, divide the page into two parts–one part for your actual resume, one part for testimonials (yes, testimonials!). Testimonials should be from former directors, playwrights, etc. and they shouldn’t be hard to get. Just ask! (but be sure to get their permission to use their testimonial on your resume) Include the name and position of the person underneath each testimonial quote.

If you are just starting out, include EVERYTHING acting-related on your resume–list every acting job you’ve ever had–no matter how small or big the part (yes, even the non-speaking parts!). Remember, you are trying to fill out your resume–list as much as you can. As time goes by, pick off the less glamorous acting parts and replace them with the true gems that highlight your best work.

Include a small thumbnail headshot of yourself on your resume. This will ensure that if your headshot and resume ever do get separated, your photo will be forever intact ON your resume.

Actors have little time to spend on marketing themselves–let alone anything else non-acting related. For this reason, you should have two form letters ready to go at all times–one for theater, one for film/television. Keep it short and sweet. Your letter should include a brief introduction, your purpose for writing in, your recent endeavors, and a friendly closing. For example, my cover letter states: I’m writing you today because I am very interested in auditioning for your play (or ‘film’ or ‘project’–depending on what you’re submitting for) . I know your time is valuable, so I’ll make this short: I would really appreciate it if you could take a moment to review my headshot and resume and let me know if you’d like to meet with me. Again, your letter should include your most recent or current work (try to include pictures within the body of the letter), what classes you’re taking, etc. Then wrap it up with something short and sweet like: Thank you for your time and consideration. I’d love to meet with you. I can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX. I hope to hear from you soon. And then, sign your name to it.

When sending a headshot and resume via email, use the same cover letter used in regular mailings–simply cut and paste it into the text portion of your email (remember, you’re trying to save time, so make it easy on yourself!). Don’t forget to attach your headshot–and make sure to size the headshot appropriately.

Headshots should look like how you look right now. If your headshot doesn’t look like how you look now, get a new one…

You don’t have to spend a big chunk of change on a reputable, big deal, bells-and-whistles photographer to get a nice headshot. Just look around and find someone who has a pretty good portfolio and low prices. I got my headshot done by a photographer who was just starting out. I got a great deal on my headshots and she used my images in her portfolio. A win-win situation!

Get an 8″ x 10″, black and white headshot (which is standard).

I recommend keeping it simple–your clothing, jewelry, etc. You want YOU (not your clothing and accouterments) to stand out.

That wraps up our section on resumes, cover letters, and headshots. I hope this section has inspired you to make your HS/resume kit brilliant!

Destination weddings have become increasingly popular in recent years. So many people are trying to find the perfect location to make their special day even more memorable, and New Zealand has become a popular choice. A well liked choice for many international travellers is Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. Planning a wedding in Auckland means that you will have access to every wedding related service imaginable from flowers, caterers, photographers to rental vehicles. No matter how extravagant or simple you plan your wedding in Auckland to be, you can be rest assured that anything is possible.

From beachfront hotels, luxurious ballrooms and banquet rooms to tropical island getaways, there is something for everyone in Auckland. Its amazing viaduct and numerous beaches and bays surrounding the city make it the perfect place if planning a beach or outdoor ceremony. If you are looking for something a little more private you are sure to fall in love with Waiheke Island. This tropical dreamland is only a short 30 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. Along with having all the conveniences of the city nearby, you will also have an unbeatable atmosphere and backdrop for celebrating your special day.

Planning the big day is not usually a straightforward task and can be even more difficult when you are from outside of the country. You can make the whole process flow more smoothly with the help of professionals. Begin by finding hotels or facilities that specialise in helping with weddings in Auckland. Working with a hotel or resort that can provide you with all the necessary skills and experience needed when hosting a wedding is much easier than working with a facility that doesn’t offer any professional assistance, especially when it comes to the planning and/or executing of the ceremony and reception. Also make sure that the establishment you are interested in can accommodate all of your guests so that people don’t have to travel back and forth between locations. It will make the entire day much easier and less stressful when people are already where they need to be for the event.

It is worth finding an establishment that specialises in weddings in Auckland. The have the experience and know-how to help make your day perfect. They often will take care of last minute details and little things like finding the cake and having it delivered, dealing with flower arrangements and delivery, and decorating the facilities that you are using. These services give you more time to focus on other elements, with less planning and preparation required before the event on your part. Remember to also ask for photographs of previous ceremonies, rooms, food arrangements and anything else you can think of. Make your destination wedding in Auckland, New Zealand an occasion to remember.

Before a wedding both the bride and groom and their families have to look after every big and small arrangements that are related to the wedding. Wedding photography is one of the most important aspects of the marriage. Everyone wants to remember their wedding so they shoot and record the beautiful moments of their wedding by hiring a professional wedding photographer. Now your wedding can be captured in different styles according to your taste, interest and personality.

From a traditional style to contemporary the couples can be captured in whichever style they want to be seen. But today a more unobtrusive and naturalistic style of wedding photography has emerged, which is called photo journalistic style of photography. It is the style which gives a sense of a documentary film, meaning you get a feeling of watching a short documentary film while looking at your wedding album. Your wedding album will be just like a storybook of your wedding depicted in pictures. It is the most naturalistic style of taking wedding photography devoid of any formal poses.

As is the case in traditional style where the wedding pictures are taken in formal poses or the contemporary style where the pictures are more edgy, glamorous and magazine types. Photo journalistic style is nothing like this; it is more natural and informal. No one has to stand in any deliberate poses and no one has to put on any extra makeup for the pictures. All the people and the ceremonies are captured as they are, nothing artificial is added not even studio lighting to add that desired effect. The moments are captured as they are in their original form making the end result beautiful.

You can actually relive your whole wedding ceremony as it happened systematically years after by just looking at the pictures in this style. The photo journalistic style is often called documentary, candid or reportage style. No words or caption is needed to describe the photos as the pictures depict every story clearly. Why couples choose the photo journalistic style because the photographers record all the emotion, fun and laughter present at the wedding without making their presence known. This is an added advantage for camera shy people. If you have someone like them in your friends or family then you can easily have their pictures without even making them conscious.

Usually this style of wedding photography requires a lot of honed talent to tell the story of the wedding. You just can’t snap thousand of pictures hoping of taking a few good snaps. A lot of thought goes into saying the story in its original form and not making it highly interpretative.